Gulf Air trebles capacity to fly GCC passengers out of Lebanon

Gulf Air has announced that it has laid on five additional flights between Damascus and Bahrain over the next five days, and operated larger aircraft, increasing its present capacity by 2,000 seats an

Gulf Air has announced that it has laid on five additional flights between Damascus and Bahrain over the next five days, and operated larger aircraft, increasing its present capacity by 2,000 seats and effectively trebling the capacity on the route, to facilitate travel in and out Lebanon.

Replacing the flights between Bahrain and Beirut airports, Gulf Air has laid on additional flights to Damascus in Syria, and as the crisis deepens, has taken further measures to deploy larger aircraft to ensure that people stranded in Beirut can be flown to safety.

"We are working closely with the civil aviation authorities and other officials in Bahrain, Oman and Lebanon to ensure that Gulf-bound passengers are brought back safely to join their families and friends as soon as can be arranged," said Gulf Air Vice President Operations, Captain Hameed Ali.

"The safety and well being of our passengers, staff and crew is always a top priority for Gulf Air, and at this time, we share the concerns of all those who are presently caught up in the conflict," he said. "As we monitor events around the clock, we will deploy all available resources to meet this commitment."

Subject to seat availability, Gulf Air will honour and endorse tickets from Beirut to Bahrain or Oman on its special flights from Damascus, in addition to those from Oman Air and Middle East Airlines, at no additional cost.

Gulf Air's emergency response team, working with government authorities and embassies has taken several steps to assist people wishing to travel to and from Lebanon. Following the onset of hostilities, and the closure of Beirut Airport, Gulf Air suspended flights to Beirut and re-routed the service via Damascus. Meanwhile, Gulf Air also accommodated passengers en route to Beirut at local hotels in Bahrain and provided alternate travel options.